The Deacon's Bench

Links-R-Us Archives

Deacon Mike Talbot has the scoop: 10 men today were ordained as Permanent Deacons for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. This group of men was formally selected on the day the evacuation of New Orleans began as Hurricane Katrina approached. […]

It happened last weekend, and The Tidings has the scoop: Despite threatening skies, groups of parishioners, students and religious had already arrived by 8:30 a.m. at the corner of Ford Street and Cesar Chavez Avenue in East Los Angeles, to […]

“As I read Light of the World, I was continually struck by the way in which abandonment of the self to God’s will underlies so much of what Pope Benedict says. I think those puzzled by him, who try to […]

Good question, and it’s something every deacon should ponder. But Deacon Bill Ditewig has an anecdote that speaks volumes: One day, as I was leaving the building, I encountered one of our bishops waiting for a taxi. He had been […]

Not only that, it was delivered by a White House speechwriter. From Politico: Sparked by an impeccable impersonation of Arianna Huffington, White House speechwriter Jon Lovett took home the top honors at Washington’s annual “Funniest Celebrity” competition Thursday night. “Sarah […]

You won’t find a more meaningful or moving reflection today than this beautiful post by Marcel LeJeune, written in tribute to his sister. A snip: My sister, Simone LeJeune, died on November 16. She knew what it was like to […]

He’s Bishop Kevin W. Vann, of Fort Worth, and this week he launched his very own weblog, aptly called “Shepherd of Fort Worth.” The good shepherd, of course, joins a number of other merry bishop bloggers, including most notably Boston’s […]

Well, according to this item, yes. (Is anyone surprised?) From the New York Times: There you are, peacefully reading an article or watching a video on the Internet. You finish, find it thought-provoking, and scroll down to the comments section […]

From the poetic pen of the Concord Pastor comes this beautiful prayer for this first Monday of Advent. I can’t think of a better way to begin a new year, and a new week: With Advent begins a new year […]

It’s something most of us aren’t even aware of, but it is done in countless churches around the world this time of year — and the Concord Pastor reflects on its meaning: This weekend I will observe a little ritual […]

“To be grateful is ultimately a gift to be be received from God. We ought to humbly ask for it. …Ultimately gratitude comes from a humble, contrite and transformed heart. Saying thank you is not a moralism. True gratitude is […]

An interesting observation from author Bruce Feiler, to ponder as you’re preparing for tomorrow’s big feast: The real story of Thanksgiving has deep biblical roots. A few years ago, I set out on a 10,000-mile journey through the hidden symbols […]

U.S. Catholic has a nice, long look at the diaconate in its December issue — and a few familiar names pop up: Beverly Hills, California deacon and author Eric Stoltz often finds himself uttering the phrase, “Please don’t call me […]

That’s one reaction to the weekend’s headline-grabbing news. From the Christian Science Monitor: Vatican officials are insisting that Pope Benedict’s new remarks on condoms are not a change in church teaching on contraception. But initial reaction in Europe and among […]

“The Church does not consider at all illicit the use of those therapeutic means necessary to cure bodily diseases, even if a foreseeable impediment to procreation should result there from–provided such impediment is not directly intended for any motive whatsoever.” […]

Men’s Health magazine has compiled a list of America’s holiest cities — and it has a few surprises: Our list of America’s Most Religious Cities shows there’s a lot of praying going on in the Bible Belt. No shocker there. […]

John Allen offers his two cents: In Dolan, the bishops have turned to their most gifted natural communicator, a leader with a demonstrated capacity to project a positive image for Catholicism in the public square. Rather than electing a behind-the-scenes […]

… on the topic of wearing the collar, after this post veered off the rails and became a debating exercise for deacons. Snip: Should deacons wear clericals? In my opinion, this is a decision best left to the deacon in […]

Andrew Sullivan has posted this letter from a Catholic mother: My husband and I are raising our sons in the Catholic Church. We are active in my church, I teach religious education, we perform corporeal works of mercy with our […]

The always-resourceful Frank Weathers over at Why I Am Catholic just posted a couple great videos, dedicated to the martyrs in Iraq. Here’s Bono and U2: One love, one blood, one life, you got to do what you should.One life […]

God of peace, we pray for those who have served our nation and have laid down their lives to protect and defend our freedom. We pray for those who have fought, whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war, whose […]

“Shocker” is how Rocco tweeted it, and that about sums it up: Nearly a year after Fulton Sheen was celebrated anew across the globe on the 30th anniversary of his death, the iconic prelate’s boyhood diocese has suddenly pulled out […]

Meet a man who knows — and whose story is about to become a major motion picture, starring Anthony Hopkins: Rare is the priest in the United States who holds the title of diocesan exorcist. Rarer still is the priest […]

Deacon Bill Ditewig poses some challenging ideas today about how to “do the diaconate right.” He picks five hallmarks of good formation: 1) Select only those applicants who have the gifts and abilities to be servant-leaders across the whole range […]

That’s the provocative opener to a terrific essay by my Assistant News Director, Shu-Fy Pongnon, who riffs on the subject at Patheos: “What if I told you Jesus was a Black man?” How I came to ask Marie this entirely […]

Beliefnet’s Movie Mom Nell Minow is featuring at her blog a promotional clip for the upcoming movie, “There Be Dragons,” about Josemaria Escriva, the founder of Opus Dei. The movie is due out in the spring of 2011. Take a […]

In the past, I’ve noted the curious habit in some dioceses of referring to deacons and their wives as “deacon couples”. Now, Deacon Bill Ditewig is tackling that subject — and some others involving spouses, terminology, and what it all […]

The above rendering will evidently recreate the areas Muslims used for prayer in the World Trade Center. Details: In an interview with Art Threat, Las Vegas-based artist Paul-Felix Montez wants to create a downtown exhibit that addresses the experience of […]

The award-winning star of “Amadeus” is scheduled to play the celebrated “blessed,” according to news reports: The first film about Blessed John Henry Newman is in the works. Italian director and screenwriter Liana Marabini, who specialises in directing films about […]

This week’s Commonweal contains a must-read: Peter Steinfels’ long, hard, grieving look at the state of the American Catholic Church. It begins with this observation: It is not often that someone at a New York dinner party calls for a […]

“We human beings need symbols to remind us that we are not made for this world but, as St. Elizabeth Seton used to say, we are ‘children of eternity.’ Each piece of the habit reminds the person wearing it that […]

Believe it or not. Details: Father Ksawery Knotz doesn’t see himself as a sexpert. Dressed in a brown habit of the Capuchin friars, he certainly doesn’t look like one. Yet, since the celibate Catholic priest started publishing his online sex […]

This commentary in the Los Angeles Times suggests that young people are being turned off by churches that seem to embrace conservative politics: The most rapidly growing religious category today is composed of those Americans who say they have no […]

I got an email from a reader and blogger, D. Scott Miller, alerting me to this post of his. He’s involved with youth ministry, and in the course of his blogging, referenced a blog post of my own, about the […]

These come from the Rev. Bill Shuler, at the Capital Life Church in Arlington, Virginia: 1. The goal is not to win a debate but to redeem the heart. 2. One’s public witness is only as authentic as one’s private […]

“We do not draw people to Christ by loudly discrediting what they believe, by telling them how wrong they are and how right we are, but by showing them a light that is so lovely that they want with all […]

A study from CARA asked that question of Catholics and Protestants — and the resulting answers may surprise you: In 1972, 39% of adult Catholics responded that premarital sex was “always wrong.” Among Catholics attending Mass at least once a […]

It’s a trend that’s sparking concern — and one Colorado diocese is taking a stand: Responding to a ban on the wearing of rosaries at a Colorado public school, the Diocese of Colorado Springs has said it does not oppose […]

Nearly a month later, spiritual uplift in the country continues to bounce along. From a British writer at Patheos: Since the pope’s mid-September visit here, there is a definite sense of English Catholics suddenly rediscovering their confidence (the Scots have […]

The brilliant Dr. Peter Kreeft offers some provocative answers: First, who’s to say we are good people? The question should be not “Why do bad things happen to good people?” but “Why do good things happen to bad people?” If […]

The opening paragraphs of this piece at Huffington Post by Michele Somerville certainly got my attention: I attended a Roman Catholic baptism about two weeks ago. A crowd of young parents and others of all ages stood in semi-circle around […]

I’ve wondered about that for a while, and now this curious piece in the New York Times — in the Fashion section, believe it or not — confirms it (though Coulter, it seems, is, um, un-comfirmed…literally): Ms. Coulter was born […]

“The CNN culture is still very strange. You walk into that building, you think you’re the Jesuits and you’re protecting a certain legacy. They still look at Fox as a carnival–not Fox as a brilliant marketing entity. It’s weird. They’re […]

Over at Deacons Today, Bill Ditewig offers a fascinating glimpse at how deacons are formed in Europe: In Germany, anyone who wishes to pursue official ministry (whether as a lay person or a deacon) must FIRST complete either a degree […]

Longtime readers of this blog will remember that I posted several items about the final months of Randy Pausch — I even preached about him one Sunday. Now comes word that his widow is writing a book about what it […]

Evidently, Andrew O’Hehir of Salon, in reviewing (unfavorably) “Secretariat,” took a few gratuitous swipes at director Randall Wallace. And now Chicago’s legendary Roger Ebert is calling him on it: O’Hehir mentions that Randall Wallace, who directed the film, “is one […]

There’s an update on that controversial art exhibit in Colorado: A Montana woman has been charged with criminal mischief after allegedly taking a crowbar to a controversial art museum display in Colorado that critics say portrays Jesus Christ receiving oral […]

Well, this post (at a fine new blog I’ve just discovered, Catholic Phoenix) offers some smart answers. Of course, like Starbucks, the Church — being universal — comes in a variety of sizes and flavors, to suit any taste. I […]

If you wonder why churches cannot endorse political candidates, Chuck Colson explains — and explains what some preachers may be doing about it this Sunday: In 1954, then-Senator Lyndon Johnson was in the middle of a particularly bruising re-election battle. […]

Those savvy media types up in Boston are on the case: Want to get friended by Cardinal Sean? Or maybe LOL with your local parish priest over his latest tweet? First the Boston archdiocese joined Facebook. Now local Catholics have […]

That’s just one of the sharp insights from this analysis of the papal UK trip from the Catholic Herald, courtesy Whispers: In Hyde Park, the Pope literally exposed the heart of the Catholic faith to crowds of thousands and a […]

“As you know the Church takes great time and care before declaring that an apparition is worthy of belief, and even then it never says that a Catholic must accept the apparition as a matter of faith. We must avoid […]

That seems to be the title Christine O’Donnell is going for (with a h/t to Seinfeld, of course). Elizabeth Scalia takes note, and reminds us of what is taught in the catechism: Perpetual adolescents will demand that the masturbation quotes […]

One of the biggest surprises of Pope Benedict’s historic trip to the United Kingdom may be how few people realize that it was, in fact, historic. Sunday night, I was chatting by phone with my father-in-law in Maryland. I told […]

This nails it: a sterling appreciation of the papal visit — and the papacy — from Ross Douthat: No doubt most of Britain’s five million Catholics do not believe exactly what Benedict believes and teaches. No doubt most of them […]

Ask yourself that question after reading this item about Ramadan and Muslim NFL star Husain Abdullah (a grateful diaconal bow to Scott Dodge for this gem): NFL practices this time of year are designed for maximum sweat production. Coaches are […]

“Religion, in other words, is not a problem for legislators to solve, but a vital contributor to the national conversation. In this light, I cannot but voice my concern at the increasing marginalization of religion, particularly of Christianity, that is […]

“Both Elizabeth and Benedict have seen war and its woeful aftermath, up close. They have watched totalitarian regimes advance and decline, and seen religion used as a justification for slaughter. They know what the rhetorical jackboot sounds like and how […]

Over at the Washington Post’s “On Faith” blog, Anthony Stevens-Arroyo has this take on two branches of Catholicism: I avoid writing about “liberal” and “conservative” Catholics. These terms are too easily politicized as Democrats v. Republicans. Moreover, the meanings of […]

“The creative possibilities for diaconal ministry are opened for the Church when we move away from restrictive notions of the deacon as being primarily defined by service as the minister of charity or social justice. Deacons are primarily those who […]

“These days, it seems, Americans are religious about everything except religion; and it’s a sign of Catholicism’s widening acceptance and waning influence that, instead of being feared as a monolithic bloc that unquestioningly follows the dictates of its leaders, Catholics […]

Over at his blog, Andrew Sullivan shakes his head in disbelief at the events of the last 24 hours in Gainesville, and concludes: “We live in an era of religious fundamentalism and fanaticism, exploited, used and manipulated by politicians, for […]

Now that his new blog is up and running, Deacon Doctor Ditewig is soliciting questions from his readers. Anything on your mind? Drop by and leave a question in the combox. I’m sure he’d love the company.

The esteemed Msgr. Charles Pope from the Archdiocese of Washington sums it up well: Intentionally giving offense is wrong. I do not deny that there are problems in the Islamic world. But I also know that it is wrong to […]

Looking for love? Stay right where you are. It could be just a few keystrokes away. From Catholic San Francisco: The road single Catholics take in search of Mr. or Ms. Right can be a long and winding one indeed. […]

“The Catholic Church remains convinced that to encourage peace and understanding between peoples and people, it is urgently necessary that religions and their symbols be respected and that believers not be the object of provocations that wound their outlook and […]

In the New York Times, David Brooks has taken aim at “the prosperity gospel,” and fires a few well-aimed shots: In the coming years of slow growth, people are bound to establish new norms and seek noneconomic ways to find […]

“Of the astonishing and flattering number of people who wrote to me when I fell so ill, very few failed to say one of two things. Either they assured me that they wouldn’t offend me by offering prayers or they […]

With the controversy still swirling over the Islamic center and mosque near Ground Zero, New York’s Archbishop is suggesting regular meetings between faith leaders might help build bridges. From the Wall Street Journal: Archbishop Timothy Dolan said the church was […]

“Sorry, but the Church does not exist to affirm us in our ideological preferences. It exists to teach us (among other things) and challenge us with the truth of the gospel. Our posture is to be one of docility to […]

“It’s hard to ignore the fact that Jesus chose to be born poor; he worked as what many scholars now say was not simply a carpenter, but what might be called a day laborer; he spent his days and nights […]

From Denver comes this lovely tribute to one newly ordained man in particular — and to the Catholic priesthood in general. The author concludes: David left a medical career and a beautiful girlfriend behind to pursue a life of a […]

The always-interesting Fr. Z looks at a question from a reader about a priest who wanders around when he preaches: For centuries in the pre-Conciliar form of the Roman Rite the preacher is accompanied to the pulpit by the master […]

As millions around the world mark Mother Teresa’s 100th birthday, you might want to visit this link to see a compelling report by CNN’s Nic Robertson. He pays a visit to what used to be Albania, to Mother Teresa’s hometown, […]

“I feel privileged to represent the Catholic Church in a visible way, because it is an organization of sinners and sinners-turned-saints, emphatically alive, expanding, and responsive to the needs of the time, an organization that has been enormously effective in […]

The always-interesting blogger/priest (or priest/blogger?) from Washington, Msgr. Charles Pope, sums it up very succinctly. Read it and see if you don’t agree. Then share it with someone you love — or, maybe, someone who is planning to make that trip […]

Strange but true. Details: Three years ago, just before Easter, then-Archbishop Raymond Burke attended a Passover seder with about 25 people to commemorate God’s liberation of the Hebrew slaves from Egypt. Guests wore yarmulkes–Burke brought his own fuchsia zucchetto worn […]

“Pierre Teilhard de Chardin wrote: ‘We are not human beings having a spiritual experience; we are spiritual beings having a human experience.’ There is a spirit arising from Ground Zero; it is an untethered ghost of American certainties and illusions […]

Your Humble Blogger is about to take a little down time — blogging will be light for a couple weeks — but before I go, here’s a nice picker-upper from The Anchoress: It’s that time of year again, when postulants […]

A writer at the BBC is posing that question, and I can think of several members of the clergy who might agree: Are today’s weddings a danger to the couples getting all the attention on The Big Day? [Rev.] Giles […]

During my recent visit to Cincinnati, I spent a pleasant hour sipping coffee at “The Catholic Cafe,” the radio show hosted by Deacon Jeff Drzycimski. The program we taped is now online for those who’d like to hear Your Humble […]

“In many ways, we are told to be separated…you are religious or you are practical. But why can’t we be one person? The seen and the unseen — we manifest both. Most indigenous shamans don’t give up their day job. […]

The other day, I alerted you to the absorbing series on the Future of Catholicism that Elizabeth “The Anchoress” Scalia has been shepherding over at Patheos. The kindly and humble Ms. A. is too modest to flaunt her own fabulousness […]

” … All your dissatisfaction with the Church seems to me to come from an incomplete understanding of’ sin. … what you seem actually to demand is that the Church put the kingdom of heaven on earth right here now, […]

It’s not unusual to still be a pop icon at 70 — think Tony Bennett, among others — but it’s pretty remarkable to reinvent oneself, suddenly, as a soulful interpreter of gospel music. And it’s even more unusual to do […]

Across the way, over at Patheos, their shiny new Catholic portal-keeper Elizabeth Scalia has launched an ambitious series on the “Future of Catholicism.” It’s part of a larger look at the future of religion, and Elizabeth has collected an impressive […]

Shortly before I was ordained, a priest friend gave me a wonderful book on homiletics: “Preaching Better” by Bishop Ken Untener. At NDICE this weekend, I stumbled upon a collection of the late bishop’s writings, “The Practical Prophet,” and found […]

That’s how Elizabeth Scalia begins this desk-thumping screed against the Vatican PR team — and I couldn’t agree more. What were they thinking? Hello? As she notes: Honestly, do I have to go to Rome and storm the press office […]

What is it like to be a Catholic in China today? This essay from Ignatius Insight offers a surprising, and moving, glimpse of survival in the face of persecution: One of the most astounding Catholic success stories in China is […]

Mark Shea puts his finger on it right here. It’s clericalism. And you see it rear its ugly head in some of the most divisive issues afflicting the Church, beginning with women’s ordination: What drives the push for women’s ordination […]

This just might be one of the most startling videos you’ll see. People either love it or hate it — there is no middle ground. And there shouldn’t be. As YouTube describes it: On a recent trip to Europe, a […]

More news brewing on the Medjugorje front, according to the website Petrus. This, from the blog Catholic Light: Vicka Ivanković, Mirijana Dragičević, Marija Pavlović, Ivan Dragičević, Ivanka Ivanković and Jakov Čolo, the famous pseudo-seers of Medjugorje, will have to report […]

Anyone who has ever had a son or daughter enter religious life will appreciate this heartfelt essay by Peter Finney, Jr., describing the emotions of watching his son grow up to become a priest: Look for me in the first […]

That seems to be the way things are headed, anyway: Note to the Village People: The lyrics in your biggest hit need an update. The organization previously known as the Y.M.C.A. is henceforth to be called “the Y.” One of […]

A few days ago, I posted this bizarre video of an outdoor mass in Austria. I asked if anyone could translate, and one of my readers — a deacon in Washington, DC — generously obliged. His text: On the 29th […]

It’s a question that people are asking more and more: with all the problems today, why stay Catholic? Here’s part of one man’s long answer, from the Sunday magazine of the Boston Globe: I like my faith in purple – […]

Thank you, Bristol Palin, for showing us how youthful mistakes and irresponsibility can turn into a financial windfall. Gail Collins puts it in context: Bristol… is currently the teen ambassador for the Candie’s Foundation to prevent teen pregnancy. She is […]

This item crossed over the wire this afternoon: On last night’s “Tonight Show,” Jay Leno said the following: “Oh, and a Catholic priest in Connecticut has been charged with stealing $1.3 million in church money and using the money for […]

A couple weeks back, a parish in Manhattan drew a lot of attention — and criticism — for its involvement in New York’s annual “gay pride” parade. I posted an item on the controversy and it got some lively comment. […]

Ross Douthat has some thoughts on that question: The Church has been horrifyingly corrupt in previous eras and still survived. It’s been led by ecclesiastics who make Bernard Law’s hands look clean, and still survived. It’s faced fiercer enemies than […]

Last week, I posted this potent and wrenching video by a former CBS colleague Barry Petersen, recounting his wife’s steady decline into Alzheimer’s. It’s since popped up elsewhere around the blogosphere, and is generating some thoughtful response, including over at […]

Down the hall and into the bathroom? Huh? Read this, from OSV’s Mary DeTurris Poust, and shake your head in disbelief: This weekend at Mass we were sitting in the front pew, as we usually do. During Communion, my husband, […]

A bit fat h/t to Mike “Googling God” Hayes, who is pointing readers to this very good chin-scratcher about what makes for good preaching in the Catholic Church. From the Pray Tell blog: In the midst of all the bustle […]

I came across this terrific reflection by the Concord Pastor, who offers a probing examination of conscience keyed to the theme of understanding. It strikes me as particularly apt for those who spend time here in the blogosphere: Do I […]

Well, that was what his mother had hoped and prayed for. It didn’t quite work out that way. The celebrated film critic — now suffering from a ravenous form of cancer that has taken away much of his jaw — […]

That’s the question that Fr. Kevin O’Rourke, a bioethicist and canon lawyer, attempts to discern in this article from America magazine. It is, to my knowledge, the most comprehensive and detailed overview of the facts surrounding the controversial abortion performed […]

It’s no secret that composers and music publishers are scrambling to create new musical settings for the new translation of the Roman Missal, due to take effect late next year. But we have a rare window into the process over […]

It’s all about clothes. Below is a vintage photograph of guests at Disneyland in the 1950s. And below, from 2006. It’s not too great of a leap to compare the fashions at an amusement park to the clothes at church. […]

Well, now. Here’s something you don’t see every day in the New York Times. Check it out: “I spent the summer before college reading Shakespeare and staring out the window and occasionally being a roadie for my friend’s band,” says […]

That’s how one author is describing the pick-and-choose, “have-it-your-way” spiritual life that is becoming increasingly popular — and it’s sparked some lively debate: “I’m spiritual but not religious.” It’s a trendy phrase people often use to describe their belief that […]

That influence, The Anchoress suggests, might well be the Holy Spirit: Mrs. Pelosi may seem confused to some; perhaps she is. I prefer to believe that her seeming inability to stop herself from conflating her religion and her politics is […]

A whopping 33 new permanent deacons — plus three transitional deacons — were ordained in Cincinnati last month, and this is the official class picture. A full write up is right here. Congratulations! And, of course, ad multos annos!

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more unusual pair of brothers: one may be the most powerful banker in the United States, while the other is a missionary trying to change the world. Both are graduates of Brown University, where […]

Fr. Z. posted this anecdote from a reader. I’d be curious to hear if anybody has seen or experienced something similar: I’m a consultant manager at a department store and my job consists of walking around and assisting customers and […]

If so, stop reading now. The Anchoress looks at what is happening in the American workplace and links to this profane and hilarious piece by Larry McCoy. Larry McCoy is definitely not a wuss. Believe me, I know. (Ignore that […]

Alrighty. After two weeks of relative peace and quiet, I’m bringing back comments. The past several days have been both restful and instructive – and I’m profoundly grateful to the various bloggers and readers who have offered advice, counsel, support […]

“Seriously, folks, if an aging sex symbol like me starts waving the red flag of caution over how low moral standards have plummeted, you know it’s gotta be pretty bad. In fact, it’s precisely because of the sexy image I’ve […]

That’s exactly what many are doing in and around New Orleans, and Ron Thibodeaux looks at how faith and prayer are pulling people together in the face of what might be an unprecedented disaster: St. Tammany Parish President Kevin Davis […]

A conference in Rome later this month will try to answer that question — taking for its inspiration the legendary theologian Dietrich von Hildebrand. A press release notes: The conference will bring together philosophers, theologians, psychologists, physicians, scientists, and artists […]

A longtime reader writes: The time in the ‘comment cloister’ has been a journey. It has caused me to consider my own quick-to-judge tendencies. Following the way I tend to see so many things – neither all good or all […]

“For too long we’ve had a preferential option for mediocrity in the priesthood. We almost embrace mediocrity as the norm. What’s the difference between a doctor and a priest? As someone once answered long ago, there really is no comparison: […]

Well, there’s a lot he doesn’t get. And Tony Rossi points out a couple examples in this week’s National Catholic Register, and concludes: Of course, it’s true that some who call themselves Christian do reprehensible things and express no remorse. […]

Over at the Los Angeles Times, Charlotte Allen takes note of one particular way of describing priests that smacks of anti-Catholicism: “Men in dresses.” That’s who columnist Maureen Dowd blames for decay in “our religious kingdom.” Which men in dresses […]

New York’s legendary former mayor Ed Koch paid tribute to his city’s legendary former archbishop at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Monday, on the 10th anniversary of the archbishop’s death. Koch’s words pay tribute to a warm and enduring friendship of kindred […]

A reader of Andrew Sullivan’s blog sent him the e-mail below, and a friend of mine (the wife of a deacon) pointed out to me, “If more people thought this way, you could still have comments on your blog.” Sullivan’s […]

That’s the question that kicks off Nicholas Kristof’s column in the Times this morning, and it’s a must-read: The Vatican believes that this newspaper and other news organizations have been unfair and overzealous in excavating the church’s cover-ups of child […]

Certainly, I’ve done my part to prove that, haven’t I? But don’t take my word for it: check out what my friend Mike Hayes says on the topic over at his fine blog Googling God: Since I started a media […]

Some fascinating possibilities, from John Allen, in NCR: First, the Catholic population of the future in the United States, like the country as a whole, will be older. The most rapidly growing demographic sub-segment of the American population is actually not […]

If you haven’t seen it yet, drop by my Beliefnet blog neighbor Rabbi Shumley and read his account of meeting Pope Benedict: Gary introduced me to the Pope warmly with my formal titles. I gave the Pope a special gift […]

After I made this announcement the other day, Jim Lackey over at the Catholic News Service took notice. He posted his own thoughts on the matter and is soliciting comments about comments. Check it out. There are some interesting observations […]

It was addressed to “Wilton” — then-Bishop Wilton Gregory, President of the USCCB — in early 2002 and was written by his chancellor. It is only now seeing the light of day. First, the story behind it, from the St. […]

Part of the problem that gave rise to this post may well be anonymity. In the blogosphere, you can be anyone, or no one, and get away with almost anything. No one needs to be accountable, or own up to […]

That is just one part of a remarkable and inspiring address delivered recently by Archbishop Emeritus John R. Quinn from San Francisco. You can read the whole thing at America magazine, but here’s one nugget among many: I was a […]

Those words conclude this remarkable speech, delivered by a non-Catholic businessman in Ohio way back in 2003! You’ll want to read it all, but here’s a sample: The Church today, and when I say the Church keep in mind […]

Could those familiar words of the Act of Contrition help the Church to heal itself? Over at the Huffington Post, Fr. James Martin goes on at great length on the subject of penance, finally concluding: What would a real penance […]

This week, in her Wall Street Journal column, Peggy Noonan looks at all the men crowding the hierarchy of the Catholic Church and says, in effect, “Enough”: Once, leaders of the Vatican felt that silence would protect the church. But […]

While many may debate the “fruits” of Medjugorje, it seems the place has not been especially productive when it comes to vocations among the seers. Catholic Light has a lengthy posting on the subject that is well worth reading for […]

Some praise for the pontiff, from a surprising source, famed lawyer Alan Dershowitz: Nor is the Catholic Church the only institution that has faced problems of sexual abuse. Every hierarchical body, especially but not exclusively religious ones, has faced similar […]

Sad news but, unfortunately, not all that surprising: The house in which Pope Benedict XVI was born in the southern Bavarian village of Marktl am Inn was vandalized overnight with an “obscene” phrase spray- painted above the main door, police […]

I’s impossible to know if The Man in White listens to the White Album, but someone at the Vatican clearly loves the Fab Four: The Vatican has finally made peace with the Beatles, saying their drug use, “dissolute” lives and […]

“The story of redemption began with a heroic ‘Yes’ by a young girl named Mary, when, in the spirit of humility and obedience, she said to the angel’s message announcing that she would be the mother of Jesus: ‘May it […]

That’s how Elizabeth Scalia succinctly describes Newsweek’s latest screed about women and the church. Scalia notes: The fact is, for all of the talk about how oppressive the church has been for women, there has been no other institution in […]

Buried inside his characteristically insightful piece about the man who will soon be leading Los Angeles, NCR’s John Allen offers this nugget: As things stand today, there are seven archdioceses in America where the archbishop is almost certain to become […]

“From the beginning and throughout history, Peter has often been a wobbly rock, a source of scandal, corrupt, and yet this is the one – and his successors – whose task is to hold us together so that we may […]

That’s how Melinda Henneberger concludes this heartfelt explanation of why she remains Catholic: Though Benedict has his admirers, I’ve not led any parades for him, and this is not my first or second rodeo with the rest of these cowboys, […]

“I have known Archbishop Gomez since he became Auxiliary Bishop of Denver in 2001, and subsequently, the Archbishop of San Antonio in 2004. Over the years he has been a most effective leader working with priests serving the Spanish-speaking communities […]

In case anyone missed it, Elizabeth Scalia has some powerful, soul-searing answers: The darkness within my church is real, and it has too often gone unaddressed. The light within my church is also real, and has too often gone unappreciated. […]

“There are three great groups of victims in this story. The first and most obvious, the children who were abused, who trusted, were preyed upon and bear the burden through life. The second group is the good priests and good […]

A reader e-mailed me the following, with this note: “I have not seen much commentary on the current troubles in our church from faithful members of other ecclessial communities. No piling on by Methodists, Lutherans, Presbyterians, Anglicans etc. They are […]

I alluded to it here, but it’s worth its own post: “To be connected with the church is to be associated with scoundrels, warmongers, fakes, child-molesters, murderers, adulterers and hypocrites of every description. It also, at the same time, identifies […]

Here’s something I never knew: the spiritual seeds of Irish soda bread. According to this item from America Magazine, it has to do with the cross that is cut on top: It’s scientific, primarily, because it allows the heat to […]

Looking for some ideas for your Lenten menu? Some cooks in suburban Washington can help you out: Bighearted and proud of her Eastern European heritage, Daria Parrell is a woman who likes to count her blessings. Among them: her ability […]

“The Church does not claim that people with a homosexual orientation are ‘bad,’ or that their children are less loved by God. Quite the opposite. But what the Church does teach is that sexual intimacy by anyone outside marriage is […]

The Associated Press takes a look at abortion and health care reform this morning, and concludes that the legislation being considered would signal a change on abortion — but what that means is, evidently, debatable: President Barack Obama’s health care […]

…because, judging from this assessment, we need it: Mysticism is dying, and taking true religion with it. Monasteries have dwindled. Contemplative orders have declined. Our religious leaders no longer preach the renunciation of the world; our culture scoffs at the […]

That would be Fr. James Martin, Jesuit author, sage, TV personality and FOB (Friend of the Bench). The good padre has a new book coming out, “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything,” and he’s making the rounds to promote it. […]

The celebrated humorist and radio host is scheduled to speak at a Catholic gathering next month — and it’s raising a few eyebrows: The National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) has invited Garrison Keillor, a pro-abortion, pro-gay “marriage” Episcopalian, as a […]

Photo by Matt Labash / The Weekly Standard Images like this don’t pop up on the Evening News. In the above photo, Missionary Vern Conaway offers Hail Mary’s for a dead infant in the hospital morgue in Haiti. It comes […]

So begins one of the most widely recited prayers in the Catholic Church, the penitential Act of Contrition, said at the conclusion of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Lent is a season for revisiting this sacrament, and for attempting to make […]

That’s the title of a stem-winder of a rant that is must reading for anyone involved in parish life. It was prompted by this post, wherein the blogger notes a sad state of affairs: Lately I’ve taken to reading the […]

Just in time for Lent, an unusual and dramatic exhibit of religious art has just opened at Washington’s National Gallery, and the Washington Post offers an assessment that, among other things, describes the lengths to which some artists will go […]

“Even the best of all possible translations of the new Missal will not suit every individual’s preference. No translation will be perfect. Proponents of the new text sometimes argue, perhaps unfairly, that the texts currently in use in our liturgy […]

“God can also meet you at any time, no matter how confused your life may seem. You do not have to have a perfectly organized daily life to experience God. Your spiritual house does not need to be tidy for […]

The good people who are my landlords (overlords?) here at Beliefnet have decided to take a little survey — and they’d like your input. How often do you visit? What do you like or dislike about the site? Stuff like […]

Last year, the National Catholic Reporter published this little bombshell about the apostolic visitation to American nuns: The vast majority of U.S. women religious are not complying with a Vatican request to answer questions in a document of inquiry that […]

A new survey of American Catholics under 30 — “millenials” –finds some surprises: Among the survey’s positive findings: — When asked to choose among five long-term life goals, 31 percent of millennials chose “to be spiritual or close to God” […]

From Europe comes this remarkable tale of a millionaire whose millions were making him miserable — so he decided to give it all away: Austrian millionaire Karl Rabeder is giving away every penny of his £3 million fortune after realising […]

A leading Mariologist — dogmatic theologian Manfred Hauke — has given an interview to a German Catholic newspaper on the subject of Medjugorje. (H/T to Catholic Light .) It’s long and meticulously detailed, but it’s a real eye-opener: Particularly in […]

This powerful thought is just too good not to share: Some days you simply see the reality and it is stunning. I was celebrating Mass with just a few people in our beautiful little daily Mass chapel when I held […]

These findings aren’t exactly surprising — but they might fuel some debate on just what makes a Catholic college “Catholic”: A new study finds Catholic students at Catholic colleges are less likely than Catholics attending public colleges to move away […]

While other parts of the country (notably the northeast) are struggling to keep schools open, it’s a different story down south: Anne Mancini makes a sacrifice to send her daughter to Catholic School — she leaves her home by 6 […]

Of all the appreciations that have been written about the late, great, curiously quiet J.D. Salinger, this one in the New York Times, focusing on his hometown in New Hampshire, may be the most surprising and poignant: By all accounts […]

One unscientific report has concluded it must be Down Under: Australia is the most sinful nation on earth, as befits a country founded as a penal colony. A BBC magazine show’s investigation has supposedly shown we Aussies are still born […]

The reports that Los Angeles’ Cardinal Roger Mahony is ready to retire have an interesting backstory: For the record, any claims of a selection already made cannot be confirmed and, as the lay of the land is looking at present, […]

Longtime readers know of my affection for and devotion to the Monastery of the Holy Spirit, the Trappist house outside Atlanta. Flannery O’Connor was a frequent visitor, and Dorothy Day was known to drop by when she was in the […]

Earlier in the week, I posted the story about bible verses being engraved on some weapons used by the U.S. military. But now, that’s about to change: A Michigan military contractor said Thursday (Jan. 21) it will remove encoded scripture […]

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Big day in the Big Easy: 10 new deaconsDeacon Mike Talbot has the scoop:
10 men today were ordained as Permanent Deacons for the Archdiocese of New Orleans. This group of men was formally selected on the day the evacuation of New Orleans began as Hurricane Katrina approached. The ...